Responses

I think that in general it's wrong and inappropriate to mock/make fun of any people, regardless of whether or not they are intellectually impaired. It also depends on the definitions of mockery and making fun of someone. There are instances in which people joke around, sometimes with the knowledge and/or consent of the subject, sometimes not, sometimes in acceptable ways and sometimes not. For instance, many people on this website joke about me and tildes. It's lighthearted fun, I initiated it almost a decade ago, and no one is harmed by it. On the other hand, people joke about my obsession with proper grammar, some do it in a way to intentionally ridicule me, even to the point of accusing me to be intellectually impaired. Of course, I do not for a moment believe that falls into your use of the term intellectually impaired; you're talking about people who actually have such limitations. My point is that there's a difference between mutual joking and cruel ridicule.

(No grammar or tildes were harmed in the production of this post, and all sandwiches made for Randy D should be wrapped, marked and stored neatly within his reach. Thank you.)~

I'll never understand the tilde thing, but I've accepted that. It's obviously an inside joke among AM/AB old-timers, and I can't imagine that it was ever an object of genuine ridicule.

The grammar thing is a different matter. I do think that it's likely that some people do feel ridiculed or 'less than' when their speech or writing is overly scrutinized, particularly if they do lack the intellectual capacity to speak or write correctly. I have seen instances on this site where, in my opinion, this has happened.

I'm glad you replied, and I feel like there's more I'd like to discuss privately. Not because I want to lecture you, but because of my own preconceptions and biases when it comes to intelligence and grammar.

Masters of War

Come you masters of warYou that build all the gunsYou that build the death planesYou that build all the bombsYou that hide behind wallsYou that hide behind desksI just want you to knowI can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'But build to destroyYou play with my worldLike it's your little toyYou put a gun in my handAnd you hide from my eyesAnd you turn and run fartherWhen the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of oldYou lie and deceiveA world war can be wonYou want me to believeBut I see through your eyesAnd I see through your brainLike I see through the waterThat runs down my drain

You fasten all the triggersFor the others to fireThen you set back and watchWhen the death count gets higherYou hide in your mansion'As young people's bloodFlows out of their bodiesAnd is buried in the mud

How much do I knowTo talk out of turnYou might say that I'm youngYou might say I'm unlearnedBut there's one thing I knowThough I'm younger than youThat even Jesus would neverForgive what you do

Let me ask you one questionIs your money that goodWill it buy you forgivenessDo you think that it couldI think you will findWhen your death takes its tollAll the money you madeWill never buy back your soul

I really like Dylan and I have a Dylan song that I hope one day will relate to Donald Trump. I figure after Trump is removed from office his business empire will crumble and he will be penniless. Then when he is scrounging for his next meal I hope to be there so I can sing Like A Rolling Stone to him. Cheers!

I don't know about the he will never be penniless part. If he is removed from office his new name will be Mud and not many people will want anything to do with any business of his and they will all start loosing money. Also if he is removed from office he will probably have a million law suits waiting for him. Anyway if he doesn't become penniless I have a back up song I'd like to sing to him - Mexican Radio by Wall Of Voodoo. Cheers!

Wouldn't it be nice if you could respond to a post that has absolutely nothing to do with Donald Trump without introducing your love for him into it? Listen, we get it; you're obsessed with him, you adore him, you want to have his love child, you chair his re-election committed, fine. Do the rest of us have to be privy to your fan club idolization of him? Give it a rest and restrict your mushy gushing for him to the closed-door moments you two have together, please! Grr. ~

It isn't his speaking of tildes and sandwiches that is disrespectful, it's his calling out the preferred topic of another poster when he seems to have an obsession of his own. People may post what they want so long as it's within the terms of use here, and you are free to go past anything you don't want to read.

Yes people may use their freedom to publicly express hatred, to excoriate and call out others, to take pot shots at anyone they don't happen to like or agree with. But, though allowed, just how responsible or respectful is that? I don't care for Randy's having to try and "correct" anyone's grammar but neither do I find that hurtful or objectionable in the same way that labeling some or any of us "racists" or "sexists" or "sheep" or "stupid" etc. is. Is the game that the person who posts the most outrageous stuff or the most extreme rhetoric somehow "wins"?

I think it's only hurtful and objectionable to those who might not be intellectually or developmentally capable of using proper grammar, spelling, syntax, punctuation, etc.

I once made a joke about a member here who has an obsession/fetish with a certain common household item that is used to hold refuse, and I was sent a (deserved) warning about it violating the terms of service. I certainly think that the same consideration should be given to people who struggle with a learning disability or are intellectually impaired, don't you agree?

If a member has called YOU any of those terms, I'm certain that they'd be warned about being abusive to other members. If the term is used generally or about a public figure who you happen to admire and you take personal offense, perhaps you should think about that.

I'll give you an example. Both on the internet and in real life, I've encountered many negative comments about my personal, conscious, and conscientious choice to not eat animals, despite not being one to lecture others about their dietary choices. People have said everything from "you're stupid" to "that's against God and the bible". It doesn't bother me a single bit, because I'm okay with my choice and beliefs, and I don't care what anyone else thinks about it.

If you're secure in what and who you believe in, you won't be offended if someone else thinks that it (or he/her/you) is racist, sexist, stupid or sheep-like.

Yes I agree mostly but I just think its not polite to mock and make fun of which is not conducive to smooth and effective communication or social interaction.

So-called "correct" grammar is not all that difficult and I think very few people are incapable of learning it. Most people rather just do not care about it or hold as being as important as a few may deem it to be. And people in general do not care to be corrected or criticized. Regardless of intellectual capability. Which they find invasive, similar to having their personal space invaded.

I too am a vegetarian which many people do consider exclusive or pretentious Or somehow getting away with something or not following the 'rules". But a lot of people resent that just out of jealousy because they know they would not be capable of that level of discipline. Although I will, on occasion, eat animal or dairy food, fish or seafood. Which some think not proper if I am a self-declared "vegetarian". To which I respond well that an area which has 98% trees is still a forest .

I think it's interesting how forgiving we are to those we love/admire/agree with, yet many of us are quick to judge those who we dislike/disagree with. I'm speaking about myself as much as anyone else.

You're 100% right about this song and the Dumpster-in-Chief. I try very hard to have compassion for Trump, to think of him as a child who was taught all the wrong values. It's an incredibly difficult task to master.

I understand. It's very hard to stay detached and to avoid it. His stench permeates the world.

I recommend spending time in nature, away from all forms of technology and media and other humans. If you can keep from thinking about the harm he's doing the planet and how he'd like to pave every paradise to put up parking lots, it is really helpful. :)